We stood in the planning tent, ready for the coming battle. The tent had been put up the previous night, alongside all the others. That had been a fun challenge in the pouring rain, but life out here wouldn't be easy. We were an army on the move, after all.

Mom and Opwinden poured over the map, with figures representing each army sitting on the map table. The map was set up with a relief of Zephyr Heights and the surrounding area, which was impressive to see but nontheless got me questioning how they even got one in here in the first place. Had they just had one lying about in the spare room and brought it with them?

Opwinden looked concerned. "There's only one road in and out of the city that could handle our armour column," he said, "given that most pegasi fly in or out of the city on planes. This rather limits the armour support that we can receive." He switched to a screen display. "A recon drone was dispatched last night, and revealed the road approach has been turned into a fortress. Pillboxes, machine guns- it'd be suicide mounting a frontal assault with our full force."

"What do you propose?" mom said, looking deeply concerned. I didn't know if she understood all this jargon, but she certainly had the look of somepony who did.

Opwinden glanced to her again. "I am aware that we must liberate the city, but it is my duty to minimise casualties as much as I can- I owe that to my men. As a result, and I am aware this is a risky strategy, but we must divide our forces into seven groups. That way we can hit our targets all at once with the enemy barely able to mobilise their troops against us."

"A bold strategy indeed," mom said. "But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Where do we fit in?"

"That's up to you and your friends, of course, your Majesty," Opwinden replied, pointing at the map. "I feel, though, that having key figures by their side will help with morale."

I spoke up. "I volunteer."

"Zipp? Are you sure?" Mom asked, looking surprised.

"I'm certain," I replied, looking at the map. "This situation is my fault, and the least I can do is work to set it right. I'll join the attack on the airbase."

Mom looked at me, then trotted over and hugged me. "Just be careful out there, my dear," she said. "Watch your footing, and be on your guard."

"I'll come home, mom," I replied. "That's a promise."

Opwinden then addressed us as we broke the embrace. "Your target is the main airbase within the city perimeter. The airbase sits on a plateau to the edge of Zephyr Heights, and is home to large numbers of aircraft. Drone scans revealed Gulfstream has moved the 20th Strategic Bomber Wing there- suggesting he intends to carry out his carpet bombing threat. We must retake the airfield and knock out Gulfstream's air power if we are to succeed. I know the magnitude of this plan, but if we do not succeed Equestria may not see another sunrise."

I nodded. "Yes sir."

Opwinden nodded in return. "Very good. Your gear is waiting for you outside. Sunny and Izzy, your briefing is next."

Once all the briefings were complete, our armies were martialled and we began our advance up the hill. Our forces would initially move as one complete block before splitting off in different directions. This was a surreal experience. I'd never imagined that. as a princess, I'd be leading troops into battle. Still, gotta be prepared for any eventuality.

At least I didn't have seasickness to put up with, although some of the younger soldiers did seem to be struggling somewhat with the pitching movement of the tanks. But we all marched side by side, now clad in helmets and armour of some description to give us protection from the enemy fire. I'd even been given a rifle and ammunition to fight with. Hopefully I knew what to do with it. That was rhetorical, by the way. I understand firearm's safety.

But, at last, our army rolled to a stop. We had reached the first of the branching off points. Ours, namely. We were to take an overland route to leave the area and climb up to the same level as the enemy before assaulting the airbase. Boy was this going to be challenging.

"Goodbye, and good luck!" Pipp called.

"You two, sis!" I called back, as I began my climb. The soldiers had formed into a column marching under complete silence so as not to draw enemt attention.

I took one look back, and as we advanced they slowly turned into hard to spot small blobs in the middle of nowhere. But we had a mission to complete, and complete it we would.

The path was steep, but the soldiers appeared to be taking it in stride as they marched along. The landscape fell away from us and down into the plains below, but the mighty rocks towered to our left as we advanced.

All those years of solid exercise had clearly paid off. I was having no difficulty moving about at these altitudes, which I guess you can partly thank pegasus biology for. The soldiers also maintained a steady pace to conserve their energy. But it was spooky to be advancing in complete silence with no sound apart from the thudding of boots on the ground and the occasional clinking of personal supplies slung on the backs of soldiers.

We marched round a corner, closing in on our destionation, with the soldiers continuing to advance in what seemed like relatively high spirits. Seems that yesterday's meals did them good and got them in the right frame of mind. Reminded me of the story of one British General who meticulously planned his offensive operations to keep casualty levels low- and made sure hot food was being delivered to the front lines to keep morale high. Seriously, people fought to be part of his command!

But soon our objective was in sight. The airport lay before us, the runway stretching out onto a rocky outcrop. Several aircraft sat on the tarmac, ready to be refuelled for battle. This was our first target- taking this place would prevent Gulfstream from bombing our forces as we advanced. And give us the air power we needed to boot.

We advanced into the region, looking about for enemies and sentries that might disrupt out offensive plan. We looked about, determined not to let anypont or anything get in our way.

Clearly, the enemy weren't expecting us to come this way. The approach we were using was basically undefended, which was oops for them and hooray for us. We continued on our path, slipping along to avoid being spotted.

"Sentries sighted," one soldier said. "Wait until they've finished moving."

We took up position behind some rocks and watched the field. The enemy soldiers scanned the terrain for a bit and seemed to engage in a conversation for a while before moving on to somewhere else.

With the coast clear, it was time to advance into the airbase. Our troops began to move out, and one cut the barbed wire surrounding the perimeter what what looked like an enormous pair of plyers. Once we were through, we began to move stealthily, hiding behind buildings and waiting to see if any enemies emerged from buildings. If we were lucky, we could take the airbase without firing a single shot.

We snuck forward, weaving from building to building in an asymetrical pattern. If we adanced in a line we would be easier to spot, and the odd shapes broke up the natural instinct we have to form lines.

I hid behind a wall and briefly looked over before pulling my head down. This was sure quiet. Perhaps they were having a teabreak?

Once the coast was clear once again I leaped over the wall and landed inside what seemed like another walled area. I pulled up to the wall and hid on the other side to avoid being spotted. Most of us were still watching for the enemy. The tension was so thick you could have slowed a bullet with it.

I stuck my head up to take a look- and immediately pulled it back down again when I saw an enemy soldier. He and his fellows had just emerged from a building and were patrolling around a barracks block.

"Targets ahead?" said one soldier. "Switch them off?"

"Negative, hold your fire," said another. "They may leave."

Unfortunately, they began to move our way- and this was where having a rather distinctive coat colour rather gave me away. Perhaps I should have rolled in some mud before we came here.

The sentries we had seen had spotted us, and closed in on our position.

But it's what happened next that I remember the best- partly because of how sudden it was.

Author's Note

Well, the next stage of the story has arrived- and what a day it is too! The day to cause dictators and monsters to quake in their boots- as the liberators have arrived!

The military plan Opwinden cooks up is loosely based on Operation Overlord, the offensive which began to liberation of Europe. This involved assault forces being split into six major offensive groups which assaulted six major beaches at once. The largest amphibious landing in history, the plan mostly went off without a hitch.

Zipp briefly alludes to General Sir John Monash, a British General in WW1 who was a firm subversion of the 'lions led by donkeys' trope so often associated with the conflict. By all accounts, he was an incredibly good commander; he succeeded in taking Hamel in a 92 minutes offensive with astonishingly low casualties.

The airbase raid is based on the Tatsinskaya Raid, a Soviet counter-offensive during the Battle of Stalingrad which took control of the Luftwaffe's main airbase in the region. Despite being cut off and ultimately destroyed, the attack was a great strategic victory as it weakened German air power in the region; a critical factor in the ultimate Soviet victory at Stalingrad.

But what will happen next? Find out tomorrow!